Fight terrorism by fighting its source: Corruption

In a February 4, 2015, post, Transparency International makes a direct connection between corruption, instability, and terrorism. Exhibits A, B, and C are Iraq, Nigeria, and the Ukraine:

Corruption in "segments" of the Iraqi army is cited as a primary reason why ISIS gained such a strong foothold in the country so quickly;

In regions of Nigeria, soldiers aren't paid, which lowers morale and gives Boko Haram an edge in the country;

It costs less for Ukrainians to bribe their way out of military service than to pay for the equipment required for combat, which explains the army's lack of supplies.

Corrupt leaders amass wealth unfairly. The people reject the corrupt leaders, who are depriving them of needed services, and then look elsewhere for protection. Some of the arms flooding into the areas to fight terrorists are sold by corrupt military and government officials -- sometimes to the terrorists the weapons are intended to defeat. Also, terrorists bribe corrupt officials to cross borders, acquire official travel documents, and enter secure buildings.Transparency International claims international forces in Afghanistan were too willing to work with corrupt officials in the country in the name of immediate security.So, what can be done? As you'd expect from an organization named "Transparency International," the group calls for more transparency in donor nations about the aid they provide: what form it takes, who gets it, and how it's used.

The organization also has a recommendation for international banks: Even though terrorist groups frequently use "legitimate" charities as fronts, banks shouldn't respond by making it more difficult for all charities to access the funds they need to fulfill their mission.

Transparency International's battle against worldwide corruption is a long-view solution to a problem that needs to be addressed swiftly and surely. In the short term, monsters such as ISIS and Boko Haram must be stopped -- swiftly and surely. All people of all nations are responsible for ensuring such evil is eliminated, once and for all.